What was supposed to be a routine utility check in Berclair ended with a family dog shot in the backyard and a Memphis homeowner demanding answers from the city’s power company.
Felix Vasques says a Memphis Light, Gas and Water investigator opened his backyard gate, which was marked with a “Beware of Dog” sign, and then fired at his pit bull, hitting the animal in the mouth and a hind leg. Vasques told reporters the dog’s injuries were so severe it later had to be euthanized. He says he is considering legal action and wants the utility to explain why investigators came onto his property and why shots were fired.
According to a police report cited by WREG, an MLGW investigator fired six shots while checking equipment at the Treadwell Street home. The report notes the “Beware of Dog” sign and states the pit bull was struck in the mouth and a hind leg. Vasques told the station the dog was later put down because of its injuries. WREG also reports that MLGW said its revenue-protection officers were at the property as part of an investigation into possible utility theft.
What MLGW Told Reporters
In a statement to WREG, MLGW said its investigators are permitted to enter private property to inspect utility equipment and that those officers receive training that includes the use of firearms. The utility serves as the municipal provider of electricity, gas and water for Memphis and Shelby County, and it operates a revenue-protection unit that looks into suspected meter tampering and theft, according to MLGW’s website.
Legal Questions And Next Steps
Vasques says he is weighing his legal options and wants more clarity from both the utility and law enforcement about what exactly happened in his yard. A police report documents the shooting, but it was not immediately clear whether any separate criminal or internal investigation had been launched beyond that initial paperwork. The incident is adding to local questions about how utility checks and revenue-protection work are carried out when crews step onto private property, and what protections homeowners and their pets really have when that happens.
